PROGRAMS
JQ Coffee Table: Quarterly socials which double as planning meetings for the quarter at a coffee shop in the Short North. (5-10 students participated per event)
JQ Shabbat: Every quarter these reform services offer a GLBT perspective on the traditional liturgy. (15-20 students participated)
"The Other Prom": JQ co-sponsored and Hillel hosted annual GLBT affirming prom for OSU college, high school students and community members to relive their prom experience in an affirming environment. (150 students participated)
Spice Up Your Night: JQ hosted a havdallah service and afterwards went to the gallery hop as a group (5 students attended)
"Trembling Before G-d" Film & Discussion: Students gathered at Hillel to view this film which received "glowing critical praise as well as a closet full of awards from film festivals throughout the world," said Jordan Gentile, OSU student. Students had an emotional discussion about GLBT identity in the Jewish world. (10 students participated)
JQ Seder: Celebrated Passover with a traditional meal in the Hillel building. Students collected writings and made their own JQ-friendly hagaddah. The holiday was explored from a GLBT perspective. (18 students participated)
Lunch with Director Moises Kaufman: OSU students were invited to a private lunch with the award winning writer and director of The Laramie Project about the Matthew Shepard story. Students heard from Mr. Kaufman about his experiences as an openly Jewish gay man in his field. After his casual talk over lunch, students began to ask him questions about his life and a candid conversation began about living a Jewish and gay life. (35 students attended)
Hanukah with a Spin: JQ Latke Party: JQ had a Hanukah party with latkes and dreidel playing. Fusion, OSU student GLBT group, joined in for the lighting of the menorah filled with rainbow candles. (30 students attended)
Rabbi Tells All about Commitment Ceremonies: Students joined Rabbi Nemitoff, a local rabbi, in learning more about the new tradition of commitment ceremonies. He shared with the group a sample program of a ceremony he preformed.
Suggestions and Goals
JQ student leaders have fantastic ideas! Utilize the students who have been leaders this year and make connections with the GLBT office on campus. There are adult JQ members in the community that would like to help with JQ programming and advising. I would suggest having an opening Shabbat dinner at one of their homes to see if students are interested in this partnership. Look into getting a well-known speaker on a JQ issue early on in the year. We were playing with the idea of fashion designer Isaak Mizrachi!
